Jamey Lee Mills and his girlfriend, Lisa Heaivilin, were charged with the November 24, 1998, murder and robbery of Leila Heaivilin, 78, who was Lisa’s grandmother. Leila was found dead in her Clinton home in a pool of blood. An autopsy revealed her death was a result of strangulation, multiple stab wounds, and blunt force trauma.

On the morning of November 25, 1998, Betty Schroeder attempted to call Leila in order to coordinate their usual Wednesday outing of gambling at the Mississippi Belle II followed perhaps by lunch and a game of Yahtzee. When Betty could not reach Leila by phone, she called Leila’s daughter, Myrna Kruse. The two women, along with Homer Schroeder, then went to Leila’s home to check on her. They arrived at approximately 9:20 AM to discover the doors of Leila’s home were unlocked. Upon entering the home, Myrna saw her mother lying on the floor and she immediately contacted the police. Leila was dead. She had been bludgeoned, strangled, and stabbed.

The evidence at trial showed that Jamey and Lisa had met in the summer of 1998 and began living together shortly thereafter. It showed that in the day or two before November 24, they had discussed robbing and killing Leila, discussions initiated by Lisa.

Jamey testified that he had spent the day of the murder ingesting motion sickness pills, smoking crack, drinking alcohol and “doing Duster.” Jamey told the police that at some point Lisa said, “Let’s go kill my grandma,” and he said, “Okay.”

Later that night they went to Leila’s home. Although Jamey testified at trial that he had no memory of the murder, he told police prior to trial that he “thumped” Leila on the head with a table leg the couple had acquired. Jamey also stated to police that he put his arm around Leila’s neck to choke her and then used a fillet knife to cut her throat. Jamey and Lisa had then rummaged through Leila’s belongings, taking her wallet which contained $31, checkbook, coin purse, and some jewelry.

Two days after the murder, Lisa and Jamey were interviewed by the Clinton police. During the interview and in her written statement, Lisa confessed that she had suggested the day before the murder, while on a walk with Jamey and their friend Tim Walker, that it was her grandmother who lived in the house they were passing, and that they should “rob” her. Tim testified that Lisa stated they should “rob and murder” her grandmother. Larry Lathrop, another witness, testified that Lisa stated, when discussing a plan to rob and “snap” her grandmother’s neck that she did not want to watch. Tim initially thought that Lisa and Jamey were joking, but he discovered they were serious when he heard them discuss the details of the planned crime.

According to Lisa’s statements, Jamey asked her the day of the murder, as well as the night before, several questions including whether her grandmother lived alone, whether she had a dog, and whether she had an ATM card. The next evening, after more questions from Jamey, and a suggestion that they should go to Leila’s house, Lisa replied, “okay,” and the two went. During the walk there, Lisa was aware Jamey had a table leg.

After the two had spoken to Leila, Jamey asked Lisa if she needed to use the bathroom, an indication to Lisa that Jamey may have spotted something he wished to steal and was encouraging her to stall for time. Lisa cooperated with Jamey and while in the bathroom, she heard her grandmother yell out. She walked out of the bathroom to find Jamey choking Leila. He told her to turn around.

After Jamey told Lisa to turn around again, she complied. While turned, she heard a “snapping or popping” noise. Jamey then told Lisa to go get him a knife. She opened a kitchen drawer for him and he grabbed one. Lisa then watched him “sawing” her grandmother’s neck with the knife.

After it was clear that Leila was dead, the two looked for money and items of value. Then while exchanging “I love you’s,” the two left the house with what Jamey had found: a checkbook, a coin purse, a wallet, $31, four rings, a necklace, a watchband, and an earring.

At trial, Lisa confessed to suggesting the robbery; she answered questions regarding her grandmother’s vulnerability; she knew Jamey had a weapon; she tricked her grandmother into being alone with Jamey, whom she knew was armed and violent; she helped Jamey procure a knife after he had broken Leila’s neck; and she proceeded to help seek out her grandmother’s money and valuables after the murder.

Both Lisa and Jamey were convicted of first-degree murder and are spending the rest of their lives in prison.